With diligent lifestyle and work schedules, our heart craves peace and serenity. That’s why concepts like meditation retreats have become so popular worldwide. Best meditation retreats are an amalgam of mindful sessions, spiritual talks, and a vegan lifestyle to recondition your aura. Also, it’s an outstanding way to keep up your emotional well-being while maintaining better health and wellness.
The duration of these retreats can range from a week or two (depending on the retreat destination). However, once the session ends, your soul will be as pure as the driven snow. To help you find the Zen, we have curated a list of the best meditation retreats around the globe:
#1. Spirit Rock Meditation Centre (Woodacre, California)
Best for: Beginner friendly, cost-efficient, silent retreats
Website: https://www.spiritrock.org
Spirit Rock Meditation Centre is set on a 411-acre area of Oak woodlands. It’s an outstanding space where you can maintain your mind’s serenity and embrace life in a new way. The area is adequately spacious to sustain the staff, teachers, and volunteers. The center is famous for Buddha teachings, insight meditation practices (Vipassana), and loving-kindness meditation programs.
With these sessions, you can develop mindfulness while adopting the experience of life. It’s beneficial because you can manage burnout with mindfulness. The programs are flexible with multiple formats to fit all schedules. You can go for either two-hour meditations or an advanced one-year practitioner program. All their sessions are appropriate for both beginners and professionals.
#2. Ananda in the Himalayas (Narendra Nagar, Uttarakhand India)
Best for: Luxurious accommodations, wellness therapies, and programs, fitness center
Website: https://www.anandaspa.com/
Based on a 100-acre land, Ananda in the Himalayas is a sheer example of tranquillity. The attractive insight of embracing Ganges and nearby villages ( of Rishikesh and Haridwar) can make you feel composed. Not to forget the beautiful mountains peeping from the back.
They offer one-on-one meditation sessions, Yogas, and Buddhist teachings to persuade your soul. The duration of their programs can range between an hour or more. They also offer gorgeous accommodations, lounges, and spas for a better experience. With their outstanding assistance, you may soon feel as if your soul is rejuvenating.
#3. The Art of Living Retreat Centre (Boone, North Carolina)
Best for: Silent retreats, happiness retreats, Ayurveda wellness escapes
Website: https://artoflivingretreatcenter.org/
New to meditation? This magnificent retreat center can offer you concise retreat programs. Their exclusive sessions can stimulate relaxation along with self-pampering. You can particularly benefit from their programs if you want to start slow. Their retreats are created to lower stress and boost immunity.
The center follows the concept of “Sahaj Samadhi” or “effortless meditation,” following which you can become an expert meditator. They also offer other retreat options like silent meditation, custom-designed R&R retreats, culinary retreats, and happiness retreats. The latter is beneficial for conditions like anxiety, depression, and seasonal affective disorder. They also offer accommodations and vegetarian meals.
#4. Rolling Meadows (Brooks, Maine, USA)
Best for: Meditation, Yoga retreats, breathwork
Website: https://rollingmeadowsretreat.com/
Rolling Meadows is famous for its silent meditation, movement, and breathwork retreats. Their programs are developed by experts with 35+ years of proficiency. They are renowned for their Yoga asanas, yin, restorative Yoga, breathwork, psycho-spiritual process, etc. While the sessions ensure shared silence, you may speak during any discussion.
The concept of silent retreats helps to encourage a cooperative and responsive atmosphere. Through this process, your body and mind can stay conscious of your true nature. Also, the marvelous environment spurs the ideal ambiance for sincerity. In short, this 100-acre retreat center can be your ideal space for inner restoration.
#5. The Buddhist Retreat Centre (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
Best for: Regular meditation retreats, walking, and bird watching
Website: http://www.brcixopo.co.za/
Buddhist Retreat Centre is a tranquil space for people of all religions. It’s based amidst a natural surrounding of forests, hills, and valleys. The center has been active for 40 years and is considered one of the top-notch meditation centers globally. Their retreat programs can help you entwine with your inner-self for a serene life. Besides the nearby biodiversity, Buddhist Retreat Centre has buildings, accommodations, cottages, and lodges for your living. You can also savor other benefits like meditation hall, library, and art studios.
#6. Stillpoint Lodge (Halibut Cove, Alaska)
Best for: Meditation, Yoga, Poustinia
Website: https://stillpointlodge.com/
Stillpoint lodge combines exploration, sustainability, and adventure in one. It’s a perfect space to enjoy meditation retreats with your family. The beautiful surroundings and wilderness ensure a charismatic ambiance for a nature-loving soul. Besides, their meditation ( including walking meditations) and Yoga programs are worth the try.
If you want to apprehend your inner-self, then it’s best to go for their Poustinia or silent meditation space. Those programs are accessible throughout the day. Besides the retreats, you can gorge on delicious meals (prepared from local ingredients) or indulge in activities like paddling or hiking.
#7. Ala Kukui (Maui, Hawaii)
Best for: Yoga, silent retreats, Vipassana meditation, gardening
Website: http://www.alakukui.org/
Ala Kukui means the pathway of illumination. As the name signifies, it’s the perfect space to gleam your inner spirit while ensuring harmony. They are set up in the beautiful land of Hana to render the serenity your inner-soul craves for! The center is famous for its Vipassana meditation and retreat programs. If you are a Yoga lover, it’s worth trying their Yoga sessions. Alternatively, you can indulge in other activities like gardening, writing, or wellness programs.
#8. Holy Isle (Near Arran, Scotland)
Best for: Meditation and Yoga, Mindfulness courses
Website: https://www.holyisle.org/
Holy Isle is located on the west coast of Scotland and has a combination of bygone and spirituality. The place is known for its outstanding retreats and course programs. From April to October, Holy Isle hosts guests for both holiday breaks and personal retreats. They also offer Christmas retreats, New Year retreats, and 10-week winter retreats.
The amazing atmosphere is perfect for you to discover sights, walks, and feral animals of the area. Their courses include Tai chi, Buddhism, meditation, and Yoga. With outstanding mindfulness principles and retreats, Holy Isle justifies its slogan, i.e., the center for world peace and health.
#9. Wat Suan Mokkh (Chaiya, Thailand)
Best for: Dhamma and meditation retreats
Website: https://www.suanmokkh.org/
Wat Suan Mokkh is a Theravada Buddhist temple in Thailand founded by Ajahn Buddhadasa in 1932. The place is known for its meditation retreats every month. If you want to learn dharma and meditation, it’s the best place to go. The open meditation hall ensures successful sessions for both beginners and professionals.
Their sessions can help you live a compassionate life while maintaining your emotional well-being. Wat Suan Mokkh can also restore good thoughts and aid in a healthy lifestyle. Make sure to check out their regulations before entering the place. They have rules like early wake-ups to help you lead a good lifestyle. For related books, audios, poems, and articles check out their official website.
#10. Harmony Dawn Retreat (Ontario, Canada)
Best for: In-house workshops, Mindfulness retreats
Website: https://www.harmonydawnontarioretreat.com/
The team of Harmony Dawn Retreat claims to be a place for healing, inspiration, and balance bloom. It’s the perfect space to retreat and stay away from all the chaos of city life. As they are set up amidst the rich biodiversity of birds, grasses, and animals, you can get the perfect atmosphere to rejuvenate your inner soul. Harmony Dawn Retreat follows the Yin-Yang and Feng-shui principles for construction.
Thus, they are located within forests and meadows. Speaking of their retreats, they offer mindfulness programs like nature walks and dharma talks. They are also popular for their Qigongs and emotional-health maintenance. Likewise, you can indulge yours in other activities like detox weekends and dance. If you are into preparing organic meals, you can opt for cooking lessons.
#11. Simple Peace (Assisi, Italy)
Best for: Heart-centered meditations, retreats, walk to sacred sites
Website: https://www.assisiretreats.org/
Simple peace aims to share divine love through peace and humility. Their retreat leaders provide one-on-one spiritual counseling and meditation guidance. The outstanding community aims to dedicate its support and time for better tranquillity. They can help you be more peaceful while maintaining inner silence.
The beautiful ambiance of Olive groves renders the ideal environment for retreats. For accommodations, you can get bedrooms, private bathrooms, gardens, and terraces. You can also go for gentle walks to the sacred sites of Assisi. On a positive note, Simple Peace welcomes meditators from all religious backgrounds.
Conclusion
So, that was all about the 11 best meditation retreats around the globe. Zen (meditation) means to be in the moment, and that’s why it’s an essential part of today’s life. The above list ascertains the destination where you can find your Zen. With their exceptional retreats and sessions, you can avert all the tension in a blink! To lead a stress-free life, it’s worth participating in retreat practices. However, keeping current scenarios in mind, check their website for Covid19 protocols.
